Lamp fixture for headlights



March 6, 1934. H. E. GRANT LAMP FIXTURE FOR HEADLIGHTS Filed Feb. 5, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

March 6, 1934. H. E. GRANT LAMP FIXTURE FOR HEADLIGHTS Filed Feb. 5, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. 5%

A TTORNE Y4 Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,950,083 7 LAMP FIXTURE FOR HEADLIGHTS Horace E. Grant, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Application February 5, 1932, Serial No. 591,110 1 3 Claims. (01. 240-4135) My invention consists of an improvement in lightingequipment for automobiles and the like. Ordinarily the light'rays from automobile headlights, or the like, are reflected forwardly and laterally from an interior parabolic reflector, with control of the rays by the covering lens, mainly to prevent distribution of the light rays upwardly above a medial level.

Various'means have been utilized to control the direction of the light rays or beams, as by the use of plural lamps, various curvature of the interior concave reflector, light diffusing lenses, and otherwise.

In my invention I' provide means whereby the original source of light, as an incandescent lamp, is mounted in a socket carried by a depending bracket provided with suitable circuit conductors so arranged that the lamp is operatively located in advance of or below the normal middle of the 20. reflector.

By such arrangement the rays emanating from the center of the lamp-are mainly reflected from the upper surface of the parabolic reflector forwardly in a horizontal direction, the lower sur- 215. face of the reflector being preferably obscured, to

avoid the objectionable glare of upwardly transmitted rays. When desired, I also preferably utilize a covering shield or hood in front of the lamp preventing direct outward rays therefrom tending to generate a confusing glare towards an approaching driver.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through a conventional reflector provided with my improved construction secured in the normal conventional lamp plug center of the reflector;

Fig. 2 is a front view in elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a view like Fig. 1, showing a modified construction.

The reflecting surface 2 of polished sheet metal or the like and of the usual conventional parabolic formation is mounted within a surrounding case 3 having suitable mounting attachment or connection with a carrying bracket or frame of any suitable conventional form. The standard lamp socket 4 is connected by a supporting arm 5 with a focal adjusting screw device 6 of any suitable construction, the plug socket 4 extending through "the middle of parabolic reflector 2, and having connection by conductor wires 7 with the battery in any suitable manner.

For the purpose of providing the independent lamp mounting, outwardly beyond the socket 4, 5511 provide a bracket 8 of suitable construction,

provided with the inner terminal insertion plug 9 having bayonet joint or other suitable connection with the socket 4 for insertion and removal. Bracket 8 extends downwardly and forwardly of plug 9 and socket 4 to any desired extent or degree and is provided with a supplemental socket 10 held by a suitable clamp 11 at the lower end of the bracket fixedly locating the socket 10 at desired position.

Plug 9 and socket 10 are in circuit-establishing connection by wires 12, so that when plug 9 is inserted the circuit is established from conductor '7 to the lamp-receiving socket 10.

Lamp 13, when inserted, is carried by socket 10 in desired fixed location in advance of and in alinement with or below the normal center of socket 4, with the axial center and its bulb disposed upwardly and backwardly toward the upper reflecting surface 2.

As thus arranged the main reflecting rays of lamp 13 are projected upwardly towards and outwardly from such surface, as indicated by the reflecting light lines in Fig. 1.

The lower middle portion of the ordinary reflecting surface 2 is preferably obscured, as indicated at 14, by any suitable non-reflecting covering, as a coating of paint, dull enamel, or the like, so as to render such lower surface nonreflecting.

The area of such non-reflecting surface 14 may be variously arranged, leaving a limited reflecting surface at each side of the reflector, as indicated, whereby to provide more or less for lateral rays for side illumination.

The direct outward rays of lamp 13 may be obscured to any desired extent or degree by a front shell or hood 15 of sheet metal or other suitable material secured to the socket 10, as by screw 16 or other suitable means, the shell 15 extending upwardly and around the lamp 13 to any extent desired, as in Fig. 2.

By such construction the rays from lamp 123 are directed mainly upwardly towards and against the limited upper middle portion of reflector 2, and therefrom outwardly by rays or beams at desirable angles limiting the direction to forwardly and laterally directed rays.

Such transmission of reflected light from the lower portion of the reflector may be variously controlled and prevented by the non-reflecting surface 14 to any desired extent.

By the construction shown, the supporting bracket is readily insertible and removable from the usual commercial or conventional lamp mounting socket as a unit, adapting it to easy and immediate application to headlight construction in common use.

I show in Fig. 3 a modified construction in which the bracket 8a, instead of having the plug terminal 9, is extended inwardly through an opening 17 of reflector 2 and directly connected by its inner terminal 5a with the adjusting screw 6. The outer depending end of bracket 8a is provided with the clamp 11 and socket 10 for the lamp 13 and the other elements like the construction already described. I

Conductors 12a, instead of establishing circuit through the additional plug connection 9, lead directly through reflector 2 and casing 3 or otherwise to the source of current, as a battery.

While the construction of Figs. 1 and 2 is readily adaptable to any conventional or standard form of headlight now in use, it will be obvious that the construction just described is readily available in connection with new constructions utilizing the standard reflector and casing equipment.

It provides for direct mounting of the lamp socket and lamp in the desired position, with resulting economy and simplicity, while securing the same desirable and useful results, with equal facility of insertion and removal of the lamp bulb, and of its bracket.

It will be obvious of course that the shape, design, proportions and size of other features, either form of the device may be variously changed or modified to adapt it to a particular size, shape or amperage of the lamp 13 and the electrical equipment of the vehicle, and its action on the reflecting surfaces.

Also, that the angular arrangement of the axial and focal center of the lamp socket and lamp may be variously modified or adjusted with relation to the reflecting surface or its medial center, and that the invention may be otherwise variously changed by those skilled in the. art to adapt or adjust it to varying conditions of use.

What I claim is.

1. In headlight construction, the combination with an outer casing provided with a central rear adjustable mounting connection and enclosing an inner concave reflector provided with a central clearance opening registering with the mounting connection, of a lamp bracket extending backwardly through said clearance opening engaging said mounting connection and having a front downwardly and forwardly disposed arm provided with an upwardly and rearwardly disposed lamp socket provided with a front ray arresting shield.

2. In headlight construction, the combination with an outer casing provided with a central rear adjustable mounting connection and enclosing an inner concave reflector provided with a central clearance opening registering with the mounting connection and an upper reflecting and a lower non-reflecting portion, of a lamp bracket extending backwardly through said clearance opening having a front downwardly andfor- Wardly disposed arm provided with an upwardly and rearwardly disposed lamp socket provided with a front ray arresting shield, and a lamp in said socket adapted to transmit rays upwardly and laterally towards the reflecting portion only of the reflector.

3. In headlight construction, the combination with an outer casing provided with a central rear adjustable mounting connection and enclosing an inner concave reflector provided with a central clearance opening registering with the mounting connection, of a socket extending backwardly through said clearance opening having an arm engaging said mounting connection, and a socket plug in said socket having a front downwardly and forwardly disposed arm provided with an upwardly and rearwardly disposed lamp socket provided with a front ray arresting shield.

HORACE E. GRANT. 

